SHAHID AZEEM has hinted that the clock is ticking on his days at Guildford City – unless the borough council stands up to be counted quickly.

Speaking on Thursday following news that Dave Tidy had stood down as manager of the Spectrum-based club, the chairman insisted: “We will never be successful until we have somewhere we can call our own club – somewhere with a heart and soul.

“We are playing a senior standard of football but are hiring a pitch on a weekly basis to do that.”

He pointed out that City finished runners-up in the Combined Counties League Premier Division last season, under the guidance of former Woking stars Scott Steele and Lloyd Wye, but had lost them because the facilities prevented the club progressing.

Azeem is urging the council to carry out improvements they have previously promised.

“It’s almost crunch time. I’m waiting for the council to come back and say yes or no about whether they will support us,” said the IT businessman, who may be tempted to seek bigger football projects elsewhere in the locality if his City dream evaporates.

“The pitch has been improved a lot but we need to push on. I gave it three years and we are two years into that. Unless I can see light at the end of the tunnel, I don’t want to waste my energy and resources.

“I have spent considerable time trying to locate new grounds and looking at what is possible within Guildford. Everything I’ve thrown at the council so far has been a hurdle – there are always green belt issues.”

Meanwhile, Tidy helped City out by finding his own replacement – Croydon Athletic reserve boss Kevin Rayner, who had some input in Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat to Egham.

Tidy, whose side lost to a contentious late penalty, blamed pressures of work for his decision to stand down and backed pal Rayner to be successful.

He said: “Kevin will bring in some good young, hungry players who are not bothered about getting paid. I think he can push the club forward.”

Rayner has become City’s fourth manager in 20 months, the third this season following Tidy and Andy Lunn, who left in October.

They are currently languishing third from bottom of the table, while Tidy – plus assistants John Hamsher and Lee Passmore – is heading for Banstead.